Tonality-based optimization of sound sensation for a cochlear implant patient

Abstract

An exemplary system includes a sound processor configured to 1) divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels and 2) generate one or more tonality indices each representing a tonality of one of the analysis channels, and an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to 1) generate one or more stimulation pulses configured to represent the audio signal in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, and 2) adjust the one or more stimulation parameters based on at least one of the tonality indices.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a sound processor configured to
 divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels, and 
 generate one or more tonality indices each representing a tonality of one of the analysis channels; and 
 
 an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to
 generate one or more stimulation pulses configured to represent the audio signal in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, and 
 adjust the one or more stimulation parameters based on at least one of the tonality indices. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implantable cochlear stimulator is configured to adjust the one or more stimulation parameters by adjusting an electrode configuration through which the stimulation pulses are applied to a stimulation site. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the implantable cochlear stimulator is further configured to increase a focusing of an excitation field produced by at least one of the stimulation pulses in response to an increase in at least one of the one or more tonality indices. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implantable cochlear stimulator is configured to adjust the one or more stimulation parameters by adjusting a stimulation rate of the one or more stimulation pulses. 
     
     
       5. A system comprising:
 a sound processor configured to
 divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels each corresponding to a particular electrode included in a plurality of electrodes implanted in a patient, and 
 generate tonality indices for each of the analysis channels in the plurality of analysis channels, the tonality indices each representing a tonality associated with one of the analysis channels; and 
 
 an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor and configured to generate one or more stimulation pulses configured to represent the audio signal in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; 
 wherein the sound processor is further configured to adjust the one or more stimulation parameters based on at least one of the tonality indices. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the implantable cochlear stimulator is further configured to apply the stimulation pulses to a stimulation site within the patient. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the stimulation site comprises a location within a cochlea of the patient. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sound processor is configured to adjust the one or more stimulation parameters by adjusting an electrode configuration through which the stimulation pulses are applied to the stimulation site. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting of the electrode configuration comprises focusing an excitation field produced by at least one of the one or more stimulation pulses. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sound processor is further configured to increase the focusing of the excitation field in response to an increase in at least one of the tonality indices. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sound processor is further configured to decrease the focusing of the excitation field in response to a decrease in at least one of the tonality indices. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting of the electrode configuration comprises adjusting an amount of current steering corresponding to at least one of the one or more stimulation pulses. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sound processor is configured to adjust the one or more stimulation parameters by adjusting a stimulation rate of the one or more stimulation pulses. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sound processor is further configured to decrease the stimulation rate in response to an increase in at least one of the tonality indices. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sound processor is further configured to:
 generate one or more peak estimates for one or more of the analysis channels; and 
 adjust the one or more stimulation parameters based on at least one of the peak estimates. 
 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 a sound processor configured to
 divide an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels each corresponding to a particular electrode included in a plurality of electrodes implanted in a patient, 
 generate tonality indices for each of the analysis channels in the plurality of analysis channels, the tonality indices each representing a tonality associated with one of the analysis channels; 
 generate one or more stimulation pulses configured to represent the audio signal in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; 
 direct an implantable cochlear stimulator communicatively coupled to the sound processor to apply the one or more stimulation pulses to a stimulation site within a patient via at least one electrode; and 
 dynamically adjust at least one of an electrode configuration of the at least one electrode and a stimulation rate of the one or more stimulation pulses in response to a change in at least one of the tonality indices. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sound processor is configured to adjust the electrode configuration by focusing an excitation field produced by the at least one electrode. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the sound processor is further configured to increase the focusing of the excitation field in response to an increase in at least one of the tonality indices. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sound processor is configured to adjust the electrode configuration by adjusting an amount of current steering corresponding to at least one of the one or more stimulation pulses. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the sound processor is configured to decrease the stimulation rate in response to an increase in at least one of the tonality indices.